The British Youth Council and Votes at 16 Coalition are delighted to learn that 16 and 17 year olds living in Wales will be able to participate in local elections. The British Youth Council are renewing their efforts to convince the UK Government to lower the voting age in all elections.
The announcement comes following 19 years of campaigning for 16 and 17 year olds to be enfranchised in all elections and referenda in the UK. Members of Parliament, Peers and local authorities continue to come out in support for a lowering voting age; with 8 local authorities declaring their support for the campaign in the past 3 months.
16 and 17 year olds in Scotland had the chance to vote in the Scottish Referendum, voted in the Scottish Parliamentary elections and Scottish Local Council elections and we are now due to see the same in the Welsh local elections. Extending the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds in selected parts of the UK and not others creates inequality and could drive an additional wedge between the devolved nations.
Anna Rose Barker, Chair, British Youth Council said: “It’s getting increasingly hard for the Government to continue to deny 16 and 17 year olds a chance to vote in all elections and referenda. It seems ludicrous to oppose a lower voting age when 16 and 17 year olds already vote in local elections in Scotland and are due to vote in Wales.
“1.5 million young people were denied a vote in the EU Referendum and last year’s snap election – it’s now imperative that we have parity across the UK”
The Government have repeatedly shot down efforts to enfranchise 16 and 17 year olds, making it clear it is not in favour of a lowering voting age. However, mounting support and evidence in favour of electoral changes mean it’s becoming increasingly hard to deny young people their right to vote.